High school band needs $40,000 to take their show on the road

Maybe it was naive of the band leaders at Waltrip High School to think they could raise $150,000 to take 141 students to Washington, D.C. to play in next weekend’s inaugural events.

The Waltrip High School's top jazz band during rehearsal. (Mayra Beltran/HC)

Nevertheless, that’s the project they’ve been working on since last summer, and my hat is off to band director Jesse Espinosa, assistant Eric Jimenez and retired director Charlie Stephens, who has been helping every step of the way.

At the moment, the effort is $40,000 short. If the band can’t come up with the money by Jan. 17, the trip is off.

The other day I went to Waltrip to meet these men and the students who have been holding concerts, car washes, and every other kind of fund-raising drive imaginable to come up with the money. These kids come from loving families, but few of the moms and dads can spare big bucks. Their money goes to pay bills.

The students are well grounded in reality. One kid told me that he understood he and his band pals might be spending next weekend at home. But, he said, if one door closes to them, another will open.

If anybody wants to help the Waltrip High School Ram Band go to Washington, send donations to Waltrip High School, Attention Jesse Espinosa, 1900 W. 34th, Houston, TX 77018.

5 Responses

The students from Waltrip Ram Band are honestly a GREAT group of kids – ALL OF THEM. They share a passion for music and comradery. They are humble and without a doubt work as a team to acheive the best. Please consider helping them out. – Proud Ram Band Parent

Thank you for featuring a story featuring teens working towards something positive in their lives in the Star section today! I just researched them from their website and found a funding link http://www.gofundme.com/waltripramband for anyone who would like to donate via the internet. I hope they achieve their funding goal for this trip!